The robots move on the water’s surface autonomously, and the cells generate enough energy to keep the bots moving for a few weeks. The conveyor belt constantly rotates and gathers pollutants, gathering the oil in the head of the robot and putting the cleaned belt back into rotation.

The robots work together to cover a large area of the water and communicate with one another and with land-bound researchers.

Autonomous robots that can eat oil working together. What could go wrong?